Cutlery serrating apparatus



CUTLERY SERRATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1962 INVENTOR EDWIN J. EPAUCHLE Aug- 11, 964 E. J. BRAUCHLE 3,143,829

CUTLERY SERRATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1962 INVENTOR EDWIN J. BRAUCHLE United States Patent Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No. 204,987 2 Claims. (Cl. 51-98) The present invention relates to improvements in cutlery serrating apparatus and is particularly concerned with apparatus adapted for Waverly edges or serrated blades of the European type.

Grinding wheels having a plurality of substantially parallel circumferential cutting edges of a width equal to the length of the cutting edge to be serrated have heretofore been providedso that the entire edge may be uniformly serrated at a single operation. Such devices have been found satisfactory where the serrated edges are straight, or substantially so, but they are not adequate for cutlery, such as dinner and steak knives, having curved or arcuate reduced end portions. While it is possible in some cases to serrate such end portions with such conventional serrating grinding wheels by turning the blade, a very high degree of professional skill is required and it is impossible for the unskilled operator even one of ordinary skill to obtain satisfactory results.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide improved cutlery serrating apparatus by means of which cutlery such as knives of the type having curved reduced outer ends may be uniformly serrated in a single operation without need of the high degree of skill and experience heretofore required.

In general, the invention contemplates the provision of serrating apparatus by means of which any unskilled operator may readily serrate or reserrate any straight and/or curved cutlery blade merely by positioning the same upon a novel guide means and subjecting the cutting edge thereof to the serrating action of a novel rotating grinding wheel.

A more specific but very important object of the invention is to provide a serrating grinding wheel having an outwardly flaring end portion in contrast with the grinding wheels of uniform diameter heretofore known.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed explanation, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a grinding wheel and guide assembly constructed in accordance with the invention, it being understood that the grinding wheel is rotated by any suitable means such as a conventional electric motor and associated housing elements, not shown because they form no part of the present invention;

FlG. 2 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the grinding wheel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the grinding wheel; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the grinding wheel taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the novel grinding wheel of my invention, indicated in its entirety at 10, may be formed of any suitable abrasive material. The central web portion 12 of the wheel has an axial bore, as shown, for receiving a sleeve 14 through which the threaded reduced end portion of an electric motor shaft 16 projects for engagement with a mating threaded nut 18, whereby to secure the grinding wheel to the shaft for rotation therewith. The nut 18 preferably bears against a plate memice her 20 fastened to the front of the web portion 12 of the wheel by any suitable means such as screws 22, as shown.

The outer grinding surface of the wheel 10 is formed, in any suitable manner, with a series of alternate grooves and ridges to provide a plurality of parallel circumferential grinding or cutting surfaces 24 and 26 which, when the wheel 10 is rotated against the cutting edge of a blade indicated at B, forms a serrated edge or reserrates a previously serrated edge.

As an important feature of the invention, one end portion of the wheel 10, preferably the rearward end as in the modification illustrated, is outwardly flared, so that the ridges and grooves'26 thereof are of progressively increasing elevation or diameter relative to the remaining ridges and grooves of the wheel. The peripheral grinding surface so formed conforms in reverse with the curved reduced end portions as well as the straight portions of steak or dinner knives and similarly shaped cutlery. It will be apparent that when such blades are positioned upright in appropriate contact with the grinding surfaces 24 and 26 and wheel 10 rotated against the blade, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, the entire edge thereof will be serrated or reserrated in a single operation. The alternate ridges and grooves upon the wheel embody a group of ridges and grooves in a straight line of substantially the same diameters for approximately 2% inches upon the diameter of the wheel and the wheel then flared outwardly for approximately 1% inches and with the flared portions having the progressively stepped ridges and grooves of progressively increasing diameters.

The configuration of the grinding surfaces 24 and 26 as illustrated is adapted for Waverly edges or serrated edges of the European type but it will be understood that the principles of the invention are also applicable to serrated edges of other types upon appropriate modification of the configuration of the grinding surfaces.

For appropriately positioning a blade with respect to the grinding surfaces 24 and 26, suitable guide means indicated in its entirety at 28 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide means comprises a cross-bar 30 forming a handle rest and a channeled blade support 32 for the back edge of the blade. A pin 34 is manually reciprocal in the channel of the member 32 to bear against the blade and urge the blade in steady and even pressured contact against the abrading surfaces of the running stone. Such remote manipulation also protects the fingers of the operator from the heat of the blade.

The supports 30 and 32 have legs 36 and 38, respectively, supported in a sectional frame 40 for independent vertical adjustment upon release and tightening of the wing bolts shown so that the cutting edge of the blade may be presented to the abrading or grinding surfaces at any angle or elevation desired. A base 42 supports the guide means 28 and may be secured to the apparatus frame or base, adjustably if desired, in any appro riate manner.

It will be apparent that the novel contour of the stone or grinding surface of the wheel 10 is adapted to conform to the shape or contour of any knife merely by appropriately positioning the blade horizontally or otherwise along the length of the surface and serrating the entire straight and curved edge in a single operation. For reserration it is only necessary to match the original serrations to the contour of the grinding surface and such reserration may also be accomplished in a single operation. Of course, in some cases, such as where the blade varies in thickness, some manipulation of the blade may be necessary during grinding but any such movement of the blade may be readily effected by adjusting the position of the knife relative to the guide means 28.

modifications thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

a 1. Cutlery serrating apparatus which comprises, a

grinding wheel, drive means for rotating said wheel, the

said wheel having on its periphery a series of circumferential alternate ridges and grooves forming a serrating cutting surface, an end portion of said wheel being flared outwardly so that the ridges and grooves thereof are of progressively increasing diameter relative to the other ridges and grooves on the wheel and adjustable guide means for positioning a cutlery blade in grinding contact with said serrating cutting surface, the said guide means including supports for the blade and blade handle and the said blade support including adjustable means to hold the blade in contact with said serrating cutting surface.

2. Adjustable guide means for positioning a cutlery blade in grinding contact with a rotating serrating cutting surface which comprises, a non-metallic blade handle support, a blade support, the said supports being independently vertically adjustable and adjustable means carried by said blade support for contact with the blade to vary the position of the blade relative to said blade support and to impart pressure upon the blade for progressively forcing its edge into contact with the serrating surface, the said handle support being formed of wood, the said blade support being slotted for the reception of the blade at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotating serrating surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,385,649 Sherman July 26, 1921 1,863,433 Brooks June 14, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 855,186 Great Britain Nov. 30, 1960 

1. CUTLERY SERRATING APPARATUS WHICH COMPRISES, A GRINDING WHEEL, DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID WHEEL, THE SAID WHEEL HAVING ON ITS PERIPHERY A SERIES OF CIRCUMFERENTIAL ALTERNATE RIDGES AND GROOVES FORMING A SERRATING CUTTING SURFACE, AND END PORTION OF SAID WHEEL BEING FLARED OUTWARDLY SO THAT THE RIDGES AND GROOVES THEREOF ARE OF PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING DIAMETER RELATIVE TO THE OTHER 